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Alan Shatter denied that he criticised judges over sentencingPrison officers want more use made of community service legislationPOA said it will recommend that prison officers go on strike if further pay cuts are imposed on them

Minister for Justice Alan Shatter has denied he was criticising judges for sending too many people to prison instead of sentencing them to community service.

Earlier, Mr Shatter told prison officers that legislation requiring judges to first consider community service in cases where people are given a sentence of less than a year was under-utilised.

Speaking on RTÉ's News at One, the minister said he did not criticise the judges.